Envelope



Nov. 2, 1937. c. F. ELMORE 2,097,916

ENVELOPE Filed May 8, 1956 IE/Gf. .Z I s Charlajfvwfe Patented Nov. 2,1937 ENVELOPE Charles F. Elmore, Evanston, Ill., assignor of one-half toBernard W. Bcman, Oak Park, Ill.

Application May 8, 1936, Serial No. 78,630

6 Claims.

This invention relates to duplex envelopes, or duplex containers, formailing purposes, in which there is a relatively small lettercompartment, auxiliary to a main large compartment for matter that cango through the mails without being sealed.

Generally stated, the object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved construction and arrangement whereby said letter compartment isformed from a single thickness of paper, a single at sheet, havinggummed edge portions that are pasted upon the outer surface of arelatively large envelope, or upon the outer surface of a box orpackage, and which is provided with a flap to seal the entrance afterthe letter is placed inside, whereby the outer wall of the largerenvelope, or other container, forms the inner wall of said relativelysmall compartment, thus providing a relatively inexpensive constructionfor an envelope or mailing container of this general form. n

It is also an object to provide certain details and features ofconstruction tending to increase the general efficiency and desirabilityof a duplex envelope construction of this particular character.

To the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention consists inmatters hereinafter set forth and claimed and shown in the accompanyingno drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a perspective of a complete duplexenvelope embodying the principles of the invention, showing the samewith its smaller compartment in closed and sealed condition.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, with certain portions of the envelopestructure shown broken away for convenience of illustration, and withthe flap of the smaller compartment shown in open position.

Fig. 3 is an inside view of a single sheet or thickness of paper fromwhich the smaller compartment is made.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section on line 4 4 in Fig. 2 of thedrawing.

As thus illustrated, the invention comprises a single sheet or thicknessof paper, having a body section i, provided at each end With a flap 2gummed on the inner surface thereof, and having its lower edge providedwith a similar ap 3, also gummed on the inner surface thereof. Near theupper edge of the sheet, there is an entrance slot 4, through which aletter can be inserted into the letter compartment thus formed. Theupper edge of the sheet or main section I has a sealing flap 5 integraltherewith, which is gummed on its outer surface. as shown at 6 in Fig. 3of the drawing, and which is adapted to fold along the line l, sovthatthis ap can be folded down over the slot 4 to seal the smallercompartment. 'I'he blank thus formed can be secured to the outer surfaceof a larger envelope 5 8, by pasting the flaps 2 and 3 on the surfacethereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, thus providing arelatively small compartment on the outside ofthe envelope, and a lettercan be inserted through the slot 4 into the l0 smaller compartment, andthe latter can then be sealed by moving the ap 5 into the position shownin Fig. 1 of the drawing, and by causing its gummed inner surface toadhere to the outer surface of the section I of the sheet. It is also 15obvious that the strip of paper between the slot 4 and the fold line 'lcan also be gummed, on the inner surface thereof, and thus made toadhere to the ,outer surface of the said large envelope. Thus, thesmaller compartment is entirely on the 20 outer surface and entirelyoutside of the large envelope 8, preferably on the face thereof,although the invention could be used on the back or rear side of theenvelope. In this way, the side wall of the large envelope forms theinside 25 wall of the smaller compartment, and for forming the latter,only the single sheet or thickness of paper, shown in Fig. 3 of thedrawing, is necessary. The relatively large envelope 8 may have anordinary ap 9 at one end thereof, to be 30 folded and fastened in closedposition by any suitable or desired means, leaving the largercompartment accessible forthe purpose of inspection of the second orthird class mail matter enclosed therein. 35

While the invention is shown and described in connection with the largeenvelope 8, forming the larger compartment of the duplex envelope, it isobvious that the label or paster, formed by the single sheet of paperwith its main section 40 l, can be pasted upon the outer surface of abox or package, or other container, to form an auxiliary lettercompartment, with a place for separate postage on each compartment, andwith a placefor the address on the smaller compart- 45 ment. Also, itwill be understood that any suitable adhesive can be used between theedge portions of the sheet and the outer surface of the envelope orother container.

If the flap 5 is pasted down over the entrance 50 4, the compartment isthen sealed or inaccessibly closed, but if the flap is merely tuckedinto the entrance 4 then the compartment is not sealed but merelyaccessibly closed.

What I claim as my invention is: 55

1. Means for forming a letter compartment on the outer surface of arelatively large envelope, or on the surface of a box or package orother container, comprising a single sheet of paper formed with integralgummed edge portions of single thickness for pasting upon the outersurface of said envelope or other container, having an entrance slot inan integral portion near one edge thereof, so that said slot is entirelyexternal of andV precludes entrance therethrough to the interior of saidenvelope or other container, and having said one edge provided with anintegral flap for closing said entrance, whereby said sheet forms theouter wall of the letter compartment, while an imperforate outer wall ofthe envelope or other container forms the inner Wall of said lettercompartment, but with only single thickness edges for said lettercompartmentupon the outer surface of the envelope or other container.

2. A structure as specified in claim 1, said single thickness edgeportions being in the form of end and bottom flaps for the section ofpaper forming the outer wall of the letter compartment.

3. A structure as specied in claim 1, said single thickness edgeportions being in the form of end and bottom aps for the section ofpaper forming the outer Wall of the letter compartment, with a gummedsection between said entrance and the fold line of said sealing flap,whereby the sheet is attached at all four edges thereof to the outersurface of the envelope or other container, leaving only said entrancethrough which to obtain access to said letter compartment.

4. Means for forming a letter compartment on the outer surface of arelatively large envelope, or on the surface of a box or package orother container, comprising a single sheet of paper formed with integralgummed edge portions of single thickness for pasting upon the outersurface of said envelope or other container, having an entrance slot inan integral portion near the upper edge thereof, so that said slot isentirely external of and precludes entrance therethrough to the interiorof said envelope or other container, and having its 'upper edge providedwith an integral flap for closing said entrance, whereby said sheetforms the outer wall of the letter compartment, while the outer wall ofthe envelope or other container forms the inner wall of said lettercompartment, but with only single thickness edges for said lettercompartment upon the outer surface of the envelope or other container.

5. A structure as specified in claim 4, said slot being parallel withand spaced a distance from the fold line of said closing flap.

6. A structure as specified in claim 4, said closing flap being gummedto seal said entrance.

CHARLES F. ELMORE.

